Binder



A. E. KNOCH.

BINDER.

APPLICATION FILED JAN- 13, my.

1 ,359,606, Patented Nov. 23, 1920.

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z 3 .J/wmwr: g Mam 2* 771% MM W UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ADOLPH E. KNOCH, 0]! LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

BINDER.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Nov. 23, 1920.

Application filed January 13, 1919. Serial No. 270,902.

for. binders, retaining means which can be applied to and removed fromleaves, pamphlets or other like objects which it is desired to bindtogether without the necessity of previously preparing such objects withany aperture or slot.

A further object of the invention is to provide a binder having a widerange of adjustability, so that the binder may be constructed to holdfrom one sheet to as large a number of sheets as it is desirable toassemble in a single book, and yet to retain the levers in place assecurely when a large number are assembled together as when but few areused.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a binderapplicable to sheets already assembled in pamphlet or book form where itis desirable to collect a number of such objects in one binder.

Other objects and advantages, such as durability of parts and extremesimplicity of construction, will hereinafter appear.

The invention consists in the various parts. combinations of parts, anddetails of construction, which are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings set forth in the de scriptive portion of the specification, and

then specifically set forth in generic and also in more limited claims.

Referring in detail to the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view ofthe binder, a portion of one of the covers being broken away to contractthe view. In this view the levers are shown in closed position.

Fig. 2 is a slightly isometric view illus-' trating in detail the leversfor operating the connections and showing also the clamping bars.

Fig. 3 is a side view of the device looking at the same from right toleft of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a vertical section of the right hand portion of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a broken plan view of one of the levers illustrating, in asomewhat exaggerated manner the difference in the amount of leverageprovided at each end of the lever by the slot or keeper for the flexibleconnection.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the flexible connections 1 are eachoperated by a locking lever 2, said-connections being led through thekeeping apertures 3, said apertures 3 being located close to the ends ofthe levers as shown. As well shown in Fig. 2 the levers 2 are eachdesirably channel-bars broadly U-shaped in cross section,

the aperture 3 being through the broad portion or back of the lever.Each lever 2 operates by its flanged heel portion 2 against alever-supporting bar 4 which also has apertures 5 near each'end throughwhich the connections 1 are led. Each connection 1. is ledacross thebinder on opposite sides and near one end of the body of leaves 6 and issecured to another bar 7 by any suitable means as by the attaching rivet8 of Fig. 2.

Referring again to the flexible connections 1, best shown in Fig. 2,said connections are preferably leather straps and the keeping apertures3 are slots through which the connection passes freely but with a ratherclose fit. The free end of each strap 1 is housed within the channeledportion of the lever'2 when the latter is in the closed position.

Each lever 2 is releasably held in the closed position, in theillustrated embodiment of the invention by reason of the flange portions2*. of said lever engaging like flanges 4 of the bar 4. If it is desiredto increase the retaining power of the spring flanges 4* upon the end ofthe lever 2 when the latter is in closed position, it is only nec- 4with a pair of pliers, or otherwise.

In the drawings, the invention is illustrated as applied to a binderadapted to re tain a large body of leaves and the back 9 is providedwith a flexible extension 11 which is housed in a cover 12. The meanswhich the connection 1 operates to grip and release the body of leaves 6are here shown as essary to slightly compress the spring flanges thechannel bars 4 and 7, but it is to be understood that various changes indetail may be made, such as fall within the scope of the appendedclaims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The strap 1 moves freely through the lever 2 when the latter is in theopen position, shown at the left of Fig. 2, but said strap is tightlygripped by the keeper portion of said lever as the latter is movedtoward the closed position.

The connections 1 need not be of leather, but should be of supplematerial. The eflicient operation of the binder depends largely uponthese connections being thick enough to occupy the greater portion ofthe width of slots 3, and upon the sides of said connections beingfrictionally resistant where they come into contact with the side edgesof slots 3.

In Fig. 5, where the preferred construction of levers is shown in detailthe keeper slot 3 at the right .of the view is shown placed near to thatendof the lever in order to provide a shorter fulcrum than is afforc edby the slot 3 at the left end of the lever,

the latter slot being farther from its end of the lever.

In operation, after the desired number of parts to be bound have beenassembled within the cover. upon the lower gripping or clamping bar 7,the upper bar 4 is put in place, the connection 1 at each side is ledthrough the aperture 5, said connection then being led through keepingaperture 3 as indicated at the left in Fig. 2. The lever 2 is thendropped upon the bar 4: and brought to the closed position as indicatedat the right of Fig. 2.

When it is desired to put in fresh sheets or other parts to be bound theoperation is reversed. If a moderate tension is placed upon theconnections 1 while the levers 2 are open and in contact with the upperclamping bar 4:, a strong tension will be placed upon said connectionswhen said levers are moved to the closed position, thereby gripping theleaves or other parts nstaeoe the leaves or other objects to be bound.

2. In a binder, a flexible connection, a lever having a keeper throughwhich said connection passes, said connection being ad justable in saidkeeper, said lever being movable to a closed position to increase thetension upon said connection, said lever having a laterally extendingportion adjacent to said connection to cause that end of the lever torise slightly when the free end of the lever is depressed, means toreleasalolyhold said lever in such closed position, and means operableby said connection to grip and to release the leaves or other objects tobe bound.

3. In a binder, a pair of cooperating bars, a plurality of flexibleconnections adapted to draw one of said bars laterally toward the other,and levers adapted to vary the tension upon said connections, saidlevers consisting of channel-bars Within which are housed the free endsof said connections.

In a binder having a flexible connection to operate the bindingelements, a lever to-draw upon said connection, said lever beingreversible and having at each end thereof a keeper to receive saidconnection and hold said connection at a predetermined distance from thefulcrum point of that end of the lever, the keeper at one end of saidlever providing for a shorter ful- ;crum than the keeper at the otherend thereof, said connection removably engaging said keepers to permitof the reversal of said lever.

ADOLPH E. KNOGH.

